Mexico City May Legalize First-Trimester Abortions

Mexico City legislators are debating a bill that would legalize abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy. Abortion is currently permitted only in cases of rape or life endangerment in this predominantly Roman Catholic city. Bill supporters say these restrictions force women to seek abortions outside the law. Mexican women often travel to the U.S. to obtain abortion care, but many low-income women who cannot afford this option resort to dangerous back-alley or self-induced procedures. This bill would be the first of its kind in Mexico City, and could be approved within the coming months.